You think some of your relatives make you sick when they visit? That’s nothing compared to how harmful germs visiting on your household surfaces can make you feel. They not only spread fast, they can spread illness. One way to defeat them is to disinfect (although this will not work on your relatives). I tried to learn more about protecting myself with this letter to Lysol…

Dear Lysol Researchers:

I’ve been using Lysol Disinfectant Spray for years and it really does freshen-up the place. But after reading the can recently when I ran out of more traditional literature, some of the things you claim confused me.

The can says: “Kills 99.9% of germs in 30 seconds.” Pretty darn impressive! However, in order to be fully effective, wouldn’t you need to spray every square inch of your home? It seems to me that once spraying starts, the germs have up to 30 seconds to race to the safety of an unsprayed area. Not to mention the germs that have already set up camp outside the zone you’ve targeted for spraying. So how can I tell exactly where the germs are at any given moment? Would it be easier to spot them if I bought a gigantic magnifying glass or telescope?

That said, if 99.9% of the germs are killed, what about the .1% that weren’t? If those germs were resistant to Lysol, doesn’t it mean the strongest, most deadly germs are still free to wreak havoc on the immune systems of my family and friends?

It’s bad enough there are household germs all over the place, but what’s with these odor causing germs you refer to? Are these germs with gas or something? What does an odor causing germ smell like — Brie?

I hate that germs are breeding in my home, especially when I can’t even see them. How many species are probably involved in this mass infestation?

Germs are gross! Thank goodness for Lysol.

Consumer Relations from Reckitt Benckiser, manufacturers of Lysol, responded with:

Thank you for contacting us, and for your interest in Lysol® Disinfectant Spray Brand III.

Below is a list of what Lysol® Disinfectant Spray Brand III (EPA Reg. 777-99) is effective against.

(A 2-page list broken down into 3 categories followed: BACTERIA, VIRUS and FUNGI).

We hope that you find this list helpful.

Final Thoughts: Helpful? More like nauseating! Under “BACTERIA,” there were 27 enemies with names such as: Neisseria elongata, Pseudomonas putida (Pseudomonas), Streptococcus salivarius, Corynebacterium diptheriae and the always disgusting Proteus vulgaris. The “VIRUS” column had 17 entries, including: Rotavirus Wa, Cytomegalovirus, Rhinovirus Type 39 (the leading cause of the common cold) and Coxsackie Type B3 Virus (Coxsackie), which sounds particularly painful for males. The 6 mentioned under “FUNGI” weren’t much more fun, represented by: Candida albicans, Fusarium solani, Penicillium chrysogenum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Athlete’s Foot Fungus), Aspergillus niger (mold & mildew) and the always astounding Alternaria alternata.

Still, I can’t help wonder how scary the microorganisms are that fall into the .1% category of germs Lysol doesn’t kill. If you’re ready to declare germ warfare in your home, look into Lysol Disinfectant Spray and be sure to the visit their Germ Information Center. The demo, “Watch How Fast Bacteria Can Grow,” is a must-see.

There are many products to choose from when you’re under attack at home. Before you use one of them, make sure you understand what you’re being threatened by. One way to do that is to Write The Company.